Automobile-tire.



0. E. w. WOOD WARD. AUTOMOBILE TIRE.

APPLICATION IILIID 00T.24, 1906.

943,505. Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

A TTORNEK.

-UNITEI), STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. W. WOODWARD, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO'FISK RUBBER COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION.

AUTOMOBILE-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14:, 1909.

Application filed October 24, 1906. Serial No. 340,300.

To all whom it may concern: 7 i

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. W. Woonwann, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Chicopee Falls, in the county of Hampdenand State of Massachusetts, have. invented new and useful Improvementsin Automobile-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the securing means for inflationvalves of the type similar to the well known valves for the inner tubesof automobile tires.

At the present time, in the manufacture of inner tubes, it is thepractice to secure the inflation valve to the same and then cement onthe outer surface thereof, concentric with the stem, a suitable patchfor strengthening this portion of the tube so .that the valve stem canbe easily clamped to the tube and also easily removed there from.

vVhen it is desired to replace the valve for any purpose, it is firstnecessary to remove the patch before the head of the valve can be drawnthrough the stem opening of the tube, with a consequent result that thetube is more or less weakened at this point.

The patch is generally removed by dissolving the cement oil with somewell known rubber solvent, which more or less attacks the tubes andconsequently weakens the same where the valve is mounted.

By means of my improvement, I dispense with the necessity of removingthe patch, and in order to prevent accidental removal of the valve, Iembody in the patch a nonelastic but pliable or collapsible ring, theinternal diameter of which is substantially equal to the externaldiameter of the clamping member and inner head of the valve, which ringis firmly anchored in the body of the patch, concentric with the valvestem opening.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a vertical sectional View through aportion of the intail view of the non-elastic ring illustrating.

the strands of which the ring is composed.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustratin the method of cementing the ringbetween layers of fabric. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a ringthe same as the ring illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, butwhich is providedwith a series of radiating cloth tabs. Fig. 5 is a sectional viewillustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the a-ccompanylng drawings, 1indicates a portion of the inner tube of the tire having the usualopening 2 to receive the stem'3 of the inflation valve 4, the inner endof the valve being provided with the ordinary disk shaped end orenlargement 5.

Loosely mounted on the stem of the valve is a washer 6 that is preventedfrom rotation by the flattened surface 7 on the valve 4 and which isprovided with an overhanging flange or ledge 8, producing the notch 9.

The character 10 designates an inelastic circular ring composed ofstrands ll'of some suitable inextensible thread and wound into the shapeshown clearly in Fi s. 2 and 4. This ring, after being woun to therequired size and shape is placed between two layers of fabric 12 and13. If desired, tabs 14 of cloth or other fabric may be passed throughthe ring 10, and secured on the same or have their folded ends adheredto the body of the tabs by cement or in any other suitable manner. Theselayers of fabric 12 and 13 are thoroughly cemented together and also tothe tabs 14, thus holding the ring 10 firmly in place. If desired, thetabs 14 may be eliminated from the structure shown in Fig. 1. In anyevent, the assembled ring and layers of fabric, with or without the tabs14 are cemented together and then inclosed in a suitable rubber patch 16which is cemented to the tube 1, said patch in the structure illustratedin Fig. 1 being first cut away to receive the washer 6, the flangeportion 8 of which firmly clamps the non-elastic ring which latter isequal in diameter to the greatest diameter of the washer 6. The base ofthe washer 6 compresses the area of the tube 1 which is inclosed by thering between it and the head 5 of the valve.

The head 5 of the valve 4, after the patch is cemented to the tube, canbe inserted through the opening 2 of the tube, bringing the head of thesame against the inner surface of the tube, the stretching of the por- 2permitting the insertion of be pinched together to considerably eloni teits diameter in one direction, whereby t e head 5 may be passed throughit, after which, thering, springing out a ain to its true. circularform, will lie so s'tantially within. the diameter of the head to besupported thereby, so that if it is desired to employ the form of washer6 the flange 8 thereon may overlap the ring.

When the nut 17 is turned down firmly in place on the washer 6,, theoverhanging flan e portion 8 of the washer 6 is brought firm y down onthe patch 16 and over the embedded vring 10 and at the same time clampsthe portion of the tube 1 between the head'5 and the washer 6-, theshoulder portion 18 of the washer 6 dropping within the non-elastic ring10, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction, I have found, thoroughlysecures the valve to the tube and prevents the head 5 from being drawnthrough the opening 2, since the inelastic ring 10 will prevent theopening 2 from stretching or assuming an oval or irregular shape,thereby -maintaining the opening 2 circular.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, it

will.be seen that the ring 10' is not provided with the tabs 14, but issimply cemented between the two layers of fabric 12' and 13'. The layersof fabric 12' and 13' are not cutaway within the ring, as in the otherform of the invention, but on the other hand they are left intact, andonly an opening 2' large enou h to receive the stem of the valve is mae. The clam ing nut 17 of this last form forces the was ier 6'downwardly so that the portion of the tube 1 beneath the head 5' and thepatch 16' are firmly clamped between the head 5 and the washer 6'. .Thisform I consider as ellicient and reliable to hold the stem in lace asthe other form hereinbefore describe because the-inelastic ring 10' willprevent the opening 2 from stretching or assuming an oval shape when anyundue strain is placed on the valve stem 4. The outer face of the washer6 has a close fit within the area of the inner surface of the inelasticring 10, which will prevent the opening 2' from stretching, should anyattem ts be made to draw the head 5 through t e opening 2', as readilyunderstood.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that in the form of inventionillustrated in Fig. 1, the non-elastic ring 10 is secured between layersof fabric andv rein'torced by cloth tabs 14, so that the ring cannotmove in any direction, the tabs being evenly distributed around the ringso that any undue stretching or strain in one direction will becounteracted by the tabs on the opposite side of the ring. It will alsobe understoodthat the head 5 and the ing of adiameter C(FlflltO theoutside diameter of the ring, t 1e ring will be efi'ectually preventedfrommoving.

t will also be understood that in the employment of the structureillustrated in-Fig. 5 that the layers of fabric in which the ring sothat the washer in this last form of invention will efiectually grip thefabric between the head 5' and its inner surface and prevent the layersof fabric within the area of the ring from stretching. That area of thepatch ying inside of the ring of Fig. 5 may be distended sufliciently toallow the head of the valve stem to be assed through the stem openintherein an also through .the openingin t e wall of the tu 'How ever,this portion of the atch 16' within the .washer and the head of t evalve stem, serves to more securely bind the rin in place on the tube.)Obviously, it woul be entirely within the scope of the present inventionto use a nut on the valve'stem bearing directly on the area of the tubewithin the ring and thereby omit the washer, but it would not beconsidered desirable to do face of the tube the nut.

What I claim is 1. In a securing means for inflation valves for theinner tubes of tires for automobiles, an inelastic ring secured to thesame adjacent the va-lve-opening therein and having an internal diametergreater than that of said opening, means on the valve-stem forretainingthe tube and said ring in place, whereby the opening in thetube is prevented from assuming a shape other than circular when thevalve-stem is in place,'and whereby .the inelastic ring is permitted toassume a form other than circular when the valvestem is removed from thetire, as described.

2. An improvement in inner tubes for automobile tires comprising anon-stretchable ring secured to the same and concentric with thevalve-stem opening thereof, said ring having an internal diametergreater than that of said opening, means on the stemfor maintaining saidring in cular form, whereby sai 'opening is prevented from assuming anoval shape when the stem is in lace, when undue outward strain is-exerted upon the valve-stem, as described.

3. As an improvement in inner tubes for neumatic tires, an inelasticring, layers of abric inclosing said ring, means for secur ing saidlayers of fabric to the tube, the ring due to the screwing up of thetube, a valve-stem, means thereon for is embedded are not cutaway withinthe ring so, owing to the abrasive action on the sur'-' lace and in acir-' clamping the tube to the same whereby the washer 6 of Fig. 1bearea of the ring, when 0 ampled between the being arranged concentricto the opening in ameter of said ring being greater than said opening, avalve-stem extending through the opening, the head of the valve beingmside the tube, and a washer on the valve-stem to prevent lateralmovement of the ring and to compress the wall of the tube around thevalve-stem opening to seal the latter.

5. An improvement in inner tubes for pneumatic tires consisting insecuring an inextensible pliable ring to the tube concentrio with thevalve-stem openingtherein and inclos'ing a certain area of the wall ofthe tube around said opening, said ring constituting a raised abutmentextending around said opening; a valve-stem having a head on the innerend thereof, and a washer on the stem to compress the area of the tubeinclosed by the ring.

6. An improvement in inner tubes for pneumatic tires consisting of aring capable of resisting lateral strains attached to the tubeconcentric to the valve-stem openin therein and having a greaterinternal diameter than that of said opening whereby a portion of thetube lies within the area of the ring, said inclosed area of the tubebeing distensible to permit the introduction of the head of the valveinto the tube. 7. An improvement in inner tubes for pneumatictiresconsisting of a ring capable of resisting lateral strains, attachedto the tube concentric to the valve-stem openin therein and havin areater internal d1- ameter than that 0 sai opening, said rin beingcollapsible and the area of the wall 0 the tube inclosed thereby beingdistensible to permit the introduction of the head of the valve into thetube.

8. An improvement in inner tubes for pneumat1c tires which consists insecuring a pliable inextensible ring to the tube concentric with thevalve-stcm o ening therein,

said ring constituting a raised abutment whose internal diameter isgreater than the diameter of the stem-opening; means'to secure the ringto the tube consisting of ieces of fabric between which the ring is incosed, a covering for saidlayers of fabric, said covering being cementedto the surface of the tube, a art of said fabric lyin within the areainc osed by the ring, where y it will be clamped to the surface of thetube when a valve is secured in the tube in the usual manner.

9. A valve-holding pad adapted for attachment to a pneumatlc tube, saidpad having a recess fitted to receive the valve washer, and aninextensible, flexible ring embodied in said pad and constituting theperipheral wall of said recess.

10. In a securing means for inflation valves for the inner tubes oftires, said tube havin a valve opening, a valve includin a headed stem,a ring secured to the tube a jacent said valve opening and having an1nternal diameter greater than that of said 0 ening, and means on thevalve stem to 0 amp the tube between the head of the stem and saidmeans. I

11. In a device of the character described, an inner tube rovided withan opening, an inextensible ring secured to the tube and having agreater diameter than the diameter of said opening, said ring beingdisposed concentric to said opening, a valve stem having a head ononeend the headed end of the'stem being passed through said opening andsaid ring, said head being of greater diameter than said opening, and amember on the valve stem to center the stem relative to the ring andsimultaneously clamp the wall of the tube within the ring a ainst thehead on the valve stem to secure t e latter in the tube.

CHARLES E. W. WOODWARD.

Witnesses:

K. I. GLnMoNs, H. W. BOWEN.

